Teb people will be running the London Marathon later this month in aid of the charity Keech Hospice, which provides free, specialist care and support for adults in Bedfordshire and children in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes.

Between them, they hope to raise a minimum total sum of £20,000 for Keech, which only receives 30% of its funding from the government; the rest of the £8 million a year it costs to keep the charity operating, they need to fundraise for.

The marathon will take place on Sunday 27th April.

Among those running is Nicola Catling from Bedford. This will be Nicola’s first marathon, and she is running it in memory of daughter Mila. Mila died aged 13 months in 2022 and was cared for by Keech Hospice.

Nicola said, “Mila went through so much pain, hospital appointments and procedures in such a short space of time but continued to smile and light up our lives. I’m sure I can go through 26.2 miles of pain for her! I received a place for the 2023 London Marathon through Keech but fell pregnant a week before. I feel like 2025 is the perfect time to take on this big challenge mentally and physically and raise as much awareness and money for the hospice as possible.”

Andy Selemba from Luton is also taking on the 26.2-mile challenge — for the sixth time!

Andy said, “Keech Hospice is a charity close to my heart, not only because I live in Luton, but also because my mother-in-law was in the hospice’s care during her fight against cancer. I have seen first hand the love and care given to the people who stay with Keech and I’m keen to support a local charity.”

Lynn Russell, events manager at Keech Hospice, said, “We’re so thankful to all our runners, who have made the brave decision to take on this incredible feat of endurance on our behalf. Having run the London Marathon for Keech myself last year, I know what a challenge it is, the training involved and how much resolve it takes to stay motivated.

“Without the commitment and dedication of our supporters — not just those who run the London Marathon, but anyone who chooses to give to Keech — we wouldn’t be able to continue the vital work we do. It is thanks to them that we can be here for people when they need us most.“

To show your support for Andy, Nicola or any of the marathon team running for Keech, please donate on the Keech website.

Keech Hospice provides free, specialist care and support for adults in Luton and Bedfordshire, and for children in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes, who are living with life-limiting conditions. Care is provided from the hospice sites in Luton and Bedford and also in patients’ own homes, hospitals, schools and wherever support is needed the most.   

Ben Gladwin was left confused and disappointed as his MK Dons side suffered a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Barrow.

The Dons’ interim boss was left to rue the way things got away from his team as despite having chances, they were beaten 3-0 at home by fellow lower mid-table outfit Barrow, making it three defeats in a row and ten goals conceded.

Gladwin reflected that there were parts that worked but admitted that from the moment they fell 2-0 down, there was not enough to feel positive about.

He said, “We were sat in the office with the rest of the staff for a few minutes as we were just confused. I will always 100% protect the players because I love them all to bits.

“We’re going to try to continue to help but something’s going to have shift because there’s still five games left and a lot of football still to be played.

“The confusing thing is that large portions of the game actually look relatively good with the ball.

“When we go 2-0 down, everything looks horrendous after that and there’s just no doubting that. Before that point, a lot was quite good.

“Because of the context of how the season is going and the current state of the group, it just feels horrendous. There’s no place to hide. It’s absolutely not good enough and everybody will be well aware of that. I just hope the club can now get someone in to help the boys out.”

Gladwin reflected that the week had been a difficult one, feeling that the collapse against Fleetwood had lead to a negative spiral but that the players had a duty to pick themselves up to go again for the remainder of the season.

He said, “I’m very much someone that wants to help the players. I really am. That sense of changing energy is probably just disappointment within myself maybe and not being able to affect them in the way I would’ve liked.

“I think until half-time at Fleetwood, we were in a really good place but that second half has damaged the lads a lot and I can feel that a lot just from being with them. But there’s no place to hide.

“We all get paid to perform for the football club so we can’t just throw in the towel and just wait until next season. There’s no way that can happen.”

Gladwin also said that the players were looking like they were still applying themselves but the grind was not working in their favour.

He said, “It would make my life easier if I just came out and said they’re not running around and not trying. They are trying but they’re not in a great place. We’ll continue to try help them until the last moment.

“But I understand the fans. They’re within their rights. They pay good money to see a product to enjoy and right now, it’s just not happening.”

Although Gladwin said he was enjoying his experience as boss, he said that the time had come for the Dons to look to appoint a long-term successor to Scott Lindsey in the Stadium MK hot-seat.

He said, “For me, it’s been an incredible learning experience and I know now it’s something I really enjoy doing, but I’ll be able to reflect on this experience afterwards. I’ve learned a hell of a lot but it’s just the right thing for the club, group and everybody to have a new manager with fresh ideas and fresh energy to change the place because it absolutely needs that.”

Milton Keynes Museum is preparing to re-open ahead of the Easter holidays after a closure due to fire.

The city’s museum documenting Milton Keynes’ history has been shut for much of 2025 following a fire in early February, but its doors will re-open on Friday (11/04).

The re-opening comes in time for the Easter celebrations, with the Museum for Milton Keynes set to mark their re-opening with Easter fun such as the search for hidden eggs will return, and of course the Easter Egg Hunt.

For 2025, the hunt will see visitors trying to locate a couple of incredibly rare eggs that will be hiding somewhere in the Museum. Suitors that find the rare hidden eggs will be rewarded with that season of treats – a large chocolate Easter egg!

The Easter Egg Hunt will be available from Good Friday, 18 April to Easter Monday, 21 April.

Further seasonal activities will include Easter themed arts and crafts and cookie decorating.

The egg search runs daily from Good Friday to Easter Monday, with visitors also being able to enjoy so much more that the space has to offer; from playing Parlour Games in the farmhouse and peeking into the world of toys over the years, to taking a stroll along the popular Street of Shops with their original facades from stores once active in our towns. How many will you remember?

You’ll also gain an understanding of farming habits locally, and can see some wonderful examples of transport, including a Sinclair C5, a canal barge, a fab array of wheelie great bicycles, and even a fire truck from the turn of the last century, once in use in Newport Pagnell!

The Easter holidays are also a great time to come and investigate the brand new Ancient Gallery, where demonstrations of ancient crafts including chain making and leather working will show you how things used to be done way back in the Bronze Age (April 11-13 and 16 & 17).

Little creatives will be able to get busy with ancient-gallery-themed arts and crafts, and there will be more cookie decorating, while history fans of all ages will also enjoy being able to get hands-on with replica and original artifacts.

If the day’s activities leave you eggs-hausted, the Museum’s Granary Tea Room will have a selection of hot and cold drinks and snacks to stop bellies from rumbling.

Museum director Bill Griffiths said, “We barely had time to catch a breath having finally opened the Ancient Gallery to such fantastic response when the fire struck and turned our elation to devastation.

“These past few weeks have been a very difficult time, but we have been cheered by our visitors who are so supportive of all we do here.

“Having their messages of support, and so many of them, has lifted volunteers, the Museum staff and me at a time when we most needed it,” he added.

“By way of thanks, we hope to see as many familiar faces, and new ones, join us this Easter. We’ve gone all out to ensure that everyone who visits will have their fill of fun…and chocolate!”

For more information visit miltonkeynesmuseum.org.uk

MK Dons have confirmed that club captain Dean Lewington will retire from playing at the end of the season

The 40-year-old defender will hang up his boots after a career that has seen him play over 900 competitive appearances for the team from Stadium MK.

Lewington, who is the son of former England assistant manager Ray, made 915 competitive appearances for the Dons, having been with Wimbledon FC when they first moved to Milton Keynes in 2003 and played in every season since the club became MK Dons in 2004.

In 2023, he surpassed John Trollope’s record for most league appearances for a single club, while his role call has seen him win a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and win 3 promotions in his time with the Dons. He has made 789 EFL appearances for MK Dons.

Lewington’s match time however had begun to dwindle this season, with the defender making just 4 EFL appearances this season and not playing at all since mid-November.

MK Dons have confirmed that Lewington is seeking to attain his coaching badges in order to become a permanent coach, having previously had three separate caretaker spells in charge of MK Dons.

The club have also confirmed there will be events to mark the end of Lewington’s career, with fans encouraged to celebrate Lewington at the Dons’ final home game of the season against Grimsby Town on April 26th, as well as a formal event to celebrate Lewington’s career after the season ends in May.

MK Dons said, “Dons supporters and people in the city of Milton Keynes are being encouraged to give Dean the send-off he deserves in MK Dons’ final home game of the season against Grimsby Town on Saturday the 26th of April at Stadium MK. This game will mark Dean Lewington Day and will be a special occasion to celebrate Dean and his remarkable efforts over the years.

“Then, on Friday the 9th of May, there will be an opportunity for everyone to come together and thank Dean at An Evening with Dean Lewington, a two-course meal and celebration of Dean’s career with friends and family as well as former coaches and teammates.”